Running preserves bone marrow, wards off osteoporosis: Australian study

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This was published 6 years ago

Running preserves bone marrow, wards off osteoporosis: Australian study

By Mary Ward

An Australian study has found regular running can protect bone marrow from the effects of ageing.

The Deakin University study, published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research this week, found regular long-distance runners – those who run at least 50km a week – displayed bone marrow eight years "younger" than those who did not perform regular exercise.

Regular running can protect bone marrow from the effects of ageing.

Regular running can protect bone marrow from the effects of ageing.Credit: Stocksy

Researchers projected that, for every 9km a person regularly ran each week, their bone marrow was one year younger.

As a person ages, their bone marrow converts from a "red" blood cell-producing marrow to a "yellow" fatty marrow, which can negatively affect blood and bone metabolism, and contribute to conditions like osteoporosis and diabetes.

While the study only focused on spinal bone marrow, associate professor Daniel Belavy, from Deakin's Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition at Deakin University, said it was expected the results would also be seen in the marrow held within other large bones throughout the body.

The positive effects were also observed in regular long-distance joggers. However, they did not extend to regular high-volume cyclists (people who cycled 150km a week), who were found to have comparable bone marrow composition to those who lived a sedentary lifestyle despite having similar levels of physical fitness to the long-distance runners.

Belavy said the difference between the results in runners and cyclists, which he described as "quite an unexpected finding", can be attributed to the relative "spinal impact-loading" of the activities.

"If you're riding a bike, sitting in the saddle, there is only a small amount of load going through your spine. But if you run, your spine is in a bouncing motion," he explained.

"[Runners] are known to have higher vertebral bone density and we showed they maintained low levels of bone marrow fat."

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Of course, cycling is not without its benefits for physical health and – given its suitability above running for people with certain conditions, such as knee problems – Belavy was cautious that people did not perceive these results as indicating cycling was not worthwhile.

"[The study] is not saying cycling isn't good for you – everyone's body has an optimal way of training. But what we have shown here is that the relative spinal loading of running does a better job of stimulating the bone marrow."

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